Welcome to a 5-part series that will discuss the Software Development Kit (SDK) for Connector for Microsoft Dynamics.  This first post provides an overview of the Connector SDK. In future posts, you will learn more about:’

• ·         Adapters
• ·         Object Providers
• ·         Object Provider Config Files
• ·         Installing Connector

Overview of the Connector SDK

Connector for Microsoft Dynamics SKD contains templates and sample code to help third-party developers and partners extend and customize Connector. The templates help developers write their own Adapters and ObjectProviders, and the sample code provides an example of how to consume the API functions. The first section of this post explains what is and is not included in this SDK, what the sample code uses as a “model service,” and information about Connector.

What is included in the SDK?

The SDK includes Visual Studio templates that are inside a Visual Studio Installer. All you need to do is run the .VSI file and it will guide you through installing the new templates in Visual Studio. You will be able to find these templates under the “Dynamics” category in the “New Project” and “New Item” dialogue boxes.

The SDK includes a project template for a Connector project. This includes a generic adapter template as well as an ObjectConfig folder with a README.txt file explaining how to use the ObjectConfig folder. There are also the following item templates:

• ·         MixedObjectProvider – For an object provider that implements both the IObjectReader and IObjectWriter interfaces.
• ·         SourceObjectProvider – For an object provider that implements only the IObjectReader interface.
• ·         DestinationObjectProvider – For an object provider that implements only the IObjectWriter interface.
• ·         Adapter – Provides only a new Adapter template.

However, that’s not all the SDK includes. It also provides a complete SampleAdapter that includes an Adapter, two ObjectProviders (SampleCustomer and SampleUofMSchedule), the necessary Web Service reference, and ObjectProvider configuration files.

What does the Sample Adapter use as a model service?

The sample adapter project uses the Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Web Service as a model service., The GP Web Services provide a good example of how the Adapter can interface with any information system to extend the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Adapter System.

What do I need to know about the Connector DLL?

The Connector components can be found in the installation folder, which by default is $(ProgramFiles)\Microsoft Dynamics\Microsoft Dynamics Adapter\.

If you changed this location at installation time you will need to manually add references to the SDK assemblies to your Visual Studio project. However, if you installed Connector in the default location the templates and sample code will automatically reference the required DLL files.

The two DLL files that must be referenced in your Visual Studio project are:

• ·         Microsoft.Dynamics.Integration.Common.dll – Provides common artifacts.
• ·         Microsoft.Dynamics.Integration.AAL.dll – Provides the API and interfaces such as IObjectReader, IObjectWriter, and Adapter, among others.

To proceed with the project, you must have these DLLs listed as references in your project.